A Daily Life of a Fire Dragon

21.The wedding

Shi Lang walks over to the Marquises mansion with steady and slow strides. The crowd seems to be even bigger today. The whole street before the mansion is decorated with huge red ribbons. The door is even painted red for this occasion. There are symbols for luck on red banners on either side of the door. The courtyard is decked out even more lavishly. Ribbons and flowers are everywhere. A red carpet is laid out, and the Prince's personal guards are checking every guest. One is writing down names on small pieces of parchment and handing them out to servants who are collecting gifts. Are they expecting the newlyweds to write thank you notes to everyone? Probably not, he thinks. They might be stuck doing it for half a year.

A guard notices his red robes and escorts him past the line. So, those who look rich, get special treatment? Shi Lang waits politely for another guard to ask his name before he passes the box over to a servant. The servants sure have a lot to do today. It reminds him of an ant hill with all of them running to and from. Some guests are milling around high tables with drinks, and others get escorted inside. It’s lively for sure. His gut feeling is tingling. Not for danger, but he thinks Dayin might be here somewhere. He can always find her, no matter what she looks like.

“Name?” The guard asks. There are no emotions to be heard, seen, or felt.

“Shi Lang,” he answers. Staying ambivalent is easy when the other person doesn’t want anything from him. The guard is just doing his job.

“Friend of the bride’s family?” The guard inquires.

“No. I don’t know them personally. I was just curious,” he tells him.

“Sir? Emeralds?” The server who accepted his box whispers.

“Sapphires, actually. I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I could do on short notice,” Shi Lang says. “You don’t have to take the box in, if you think it might offend the bride.”

“Please come this way,” the servant beckons at him. He is curious, so he follows the man to a side garden. A small gathering of lavishly dressed men sits around a table under a huge Magnolia tree. Everyone turns to him, expectantly. The servant he came with announces loudly: “Your Highness? May I present Master Shi?”

“Oh! Young Master must have brought something extravagant!” The Prince exclaims. The box changes hands again, and everyone has something to say about the craftsmanship and the design. Luckily, he didn’t include dragons with this one, or he might be in serious trouble.

“Marquis Gu, you have to see this!” The Prince can’t hide his excitement. Not a very royal thing to do. But, with all the alcohol on the table, Shi Lang thinks they might have started this round of celebrating yesterday.

“Green Sapphires? I have only read about it,” The Marquis leans over the box. Nobody touches the necklace, but everyone is looking at it with big eyes.

“Master Shi? Are you in the jewellery business?” The Prince inquires.

“No, Your Highness,” he shakes his head. “I’m a cultivator. I just happen to have them.”

“And you wouldn’t save such a rarity for your own wife?” The Prince looks at him with suspicion. Was it too much? How can you even give something that would be too much when the bride is a princess and the groom a son of the Emperor?

“I’m saving a pair of rubies for her,” Shi Lang bows slightly. “Thank you for your inquiry.”

“Are you partial to red?” Marquis Gu laughs. The atmosphere returns to mery right after that. Drinks get passed around, and he is included.

“Red is my favourite colour,” Shi Lang nods.

“You have to stay,” the Prince pulls him to a seat. He is certain that no seats were empty when he came here. “I love hearing stories from the cultivator world. What level have you reached? Are you close to immortality?”

“I’m not sure about the levels, Your Highness. I mostly spend my time reading old books in a monastery. No one has ever asked me at what stage of cultivation I am,” Shi Lang answers. He will try to avoid more serious questions. Telling the Emperor's son that he actually is an immortal might be fatal to his health.

“I heard cultivators have talismans for everything. Is that true?” The Prince wants to know. At least this is a safe topic.

“Almost everything. Talismans are for warding against evil spirits. The basic forms also include fire, ropes, or silence. I hate to admit, I’m not very good at drawing talismans,” he answers truthfully. He really isn’t, because he uses magic. But, that will remain unsaid.

“How are cultivators' martial arts different from regular martial artists?” Marquis Gu asks.

“They are not. It mostly depends on the mental state and cultivation strength. The stronger one’s inner power is, the better he is at martial arts. Cultivators with high enough inner power can even make their swords fly,” Shi Lang explains.

“A flying sword? Can you do it?” The Prince wonders. His Highness looks like a small child that is listening to the most exciting story ever.

“I don’t want to offend you, Your Highness. So, I haven’t brought my sword with me,” Shi Lang bows again. This could be dangerous fast, if he’s not careful with his answers.

“Does it have to be your sword? Can’t you make any sword fly?” The Prince asks.

“It has to be my sword, Your Highness,” he sighs. Caution must be his top priority. Staying polite and keeping his answers short is the best for now. And maybe a fast escape?

He sips lightly from his cup every time someone proposes a toast. The wine is strong and not to his liking. Refusing it is another thing to land him in trouble. Is the possibility of finding Dayin worth this? Absolutely. He knows she is here. His heart is restless. Shi Lang wants to go explore the mansion, but getting away is not easy. An opportunity presents itself when a few more guests join them. Everyone around the table seems to know them. They greet each other with enthusiasm and surround the Prince. Shi Lang leans towards the Marquis.

“Please excuse me,” he says quietly. “I’m not used to wine. I don’t want to embarrass you on this important day.”

“Go cool off, and do come back,” Marquis Gu tells him. A servant appears almost instantly at the man’s side. “Take Master Shi to rest for a while.”

“Thank you,” Shi Lang bows. He doesn’t make any promises to come back.

The servant takes him on a different path out of the side garden. This mansion is huge, he thinks when they enter a zen garden that is surrounded with pavilions on all sides. It should be peaceful here, but the garden is filled with women and kids. Is this the bridal party? There are more ladies in the gazebo. One is dressed bright red with an elaborate crown on her head. That must be Princess Gu Daiyu. She looks composed and happy from afar. She is also the one who’s aura shines the brightest. He smiles, because a wisp of her happiness can be felt even at the distance he’s at.

Like she felt that someone was watching her, the Princess turned her head. Their eyes meet over the distance. Shi Lang feels a profound sadness all of a sudden. The pain strikes him fast and hard. His heart feels like it’s breaking into a million tiny pieces. His soul recognises hers. It’s Dayin. Fate has played another trick on him. To meet her anew on her wedding day to another. Again. Is it his destiny to be forever alone? He bows to her to give his respect. Then he follows the servant through a passage at the far end of the garden. The room he is shown to is opulent, but nothing can cheer him up right now. Shi Lang waits for the servant to be truly gone before he disappears from sight.

His magic gives out because of the pain he feels. Instead of returning all the way home, he lands back in the small room at the restaurant. Heartbroken, he sits still on the floor by the bed. He wishes her luck in this life. Shi Lang knows that he can’t forcibly change fate. There is still hope that he can meet her on time in her next life. But, for now, he knows he will not be back to Gucheng as long as she lives.